For the second year in a row this fixture has ended in a draw, and Ireland will feel a little unlucky not to have taken the two points.
By Declan Whooley
In the most difficult conditions in Dublin, it was fitting that Jamie Heaslip and Paddy Jackson, two players who have come under a lot of scrutiny, scored the points in what was a whole-hearted team display by Declan Kidney’s charges.
The Irish side will feel like they let this one slip as they dominated in large periods and had the visitors under the cosh, but a late converted try saw the French share the spoils.
Ireland started with great purpose and were well rewarded for their efforts when Jamie Heaslip crashed over from close quarters, and Jackson nailed his first kick of the day to give the home side a seven point cushion.
This was an Irish side that was playing to the elements, some strong carries, excellent out of hand kicking and dogged defending. Considering the weather condition, only two handling errors in the opening 40 minutes was a credit to the Irish side.
And in Paddy Jackson, there was only one out-half on the pitch performing well from the two, with two long-range efforts giving Ireland a 13-3 interval lead.
Ireland failed to score in the second half as the French got an upper-hand, with a penalty from Morgan Parra and try Louis Picamoles leaving the game deadlocked on 13 points a piece.
While Keith Earls looked like he could have been impeded when chasing a Reddan kick through late on, the TMO though otherwise and gave France the 22 drop-out.
Ireland will feel they let this one slip, but the morale will have been boosted greatly with a fantastic team effort.
There will be a lot of weary bodies in the morning and there could well be more injuries ahead of the final game with Italy, but the manner of the performance will have raised spirits and will travel to Rome buoyed by an improvement of the past two Six Nation’s games.
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